I've read through enough previous posts to know that leeches are the preferred form of live bait in the BWCA. I don't have a ton of experience with leeches (and I'll be on my first BWCA trip), so I'm hoping for some advice. I'm planning to come to the BWCA from July 3-9 with my two children (13, 14), so worried about the toll warmer weather would have on live bait.

I have questions about pre-trip prep, how to store them while paddling, while at your campsite, and while out fishing. Any tips for keeping them for a week in warmer temps would be most appreciated. Thanks.

tazzeroo2002: "I've read through enough previous posts to know that leeches are the preferred form of live bait in the BWCA. I don't have a ton of experience with leeches (and I'll be on my first BWCA trip), so I'm hoping for some advice. I'm planning to come to the BWCA from July 3-9 with my two children (13, 14), so worried about the toll warmer weather would have on live bait.

I have questions about pre-trip prep, how to store them while paddling, while at your campsite, and while out fishing. Any tips for keeping them for a week in warmer temps would be most appreciated. Thanks. "

Keep them in the bag from the bait shop and put them in a cooler on your way to the entry point.

When it’s time to hit the water, put them in an old Nalgene bottle and stash them in a pack.

When you get to camp out then in this (small) and tie it to a tree/rock at your campsite. Take it out fishing with you as well.

Bait King

They will last all week no problem. 1 pound fits in these containers perfectly.

Keep them in a bait king during all of your trip. For daily bait use put your estimated number in a mesh bag on some paracord. Works best if each paddler has a mesh bag. Pro tip on the bait king, drill a hole and insert a slightly bent cotter into the thread area. This will prevent the bait king from opening onshore with the waves.

Use the search button above and look up "leech nalgene" and you'll get a bunch of stuff. Find an extra nalgene bottle and buy an extra lid. (the wide mouth kind) Drill tiny holes in the extra lid and slip the collar over the neck of the bottle right where the existing lid collar is at...but 180 degrees from that lid.

Buy leeches, put cold water in nalgene and at some point move them to it. You use the original solid lid for portages and lots of in and out type stuff. Once at camp or fishing you can use the "vented" lid to give them fresh water and whatnot. You can tie to shore via the loop the lid makes just like you would on a pack or something. Also, the leeches like to stick to the lid if say it's laying in the bottom of the canoe on its side. Very easy to grab the bottle, undo the lid, and there's 6 leeches hanging right there for you to grab. No need to go fishing for them

I'm a Bait King guy also...we have never had a problem with leeches using one

Savage Voyageu Pro tip on the bait king, drill a hole and insert a slightly bent cotter into the thread area. This will prevent the bait king from opening onshore with the waves. "

Can you post of picture of what you are talking about? I havn't had any trouble with it coming undone with waves and stuff, but it is a few years old now, and things will wear out eventually. This seems like a good idea if I'm imagining it right...

The key to keeping leeches for a week in the BW is to change the water frequently. Keep 'em in fresh water and out of the sun and they will last for weeks.

we used a Nalgene bottle last year with the two (2) lids and lost almost all of our leeches in the first 36 hours. The weather was hot and we overfilled the bottle I am sure.

Also, make sure that the holes you drill are pretty small, we were surprised at how small of a hole they could get through.

The idea I came up with to save what we could, I found that we had an extra mosquito net head net. Fabric top mesh everywhere else. It had a built in drawstring we put the leeches that remained into the head net flipped it over tied a longer line on it, put it into the lake and it worked GREAT!!!

Lots of water flowing in and out, easy to use, it saved the trip.

Regarding how do you fish with them, just like worms worked for us.

We use a Leech Locker. Float them in camp and while fishing; change the water daily. They are fine for a couple of weeks.

Cc26: "

Savage Voyageu Pro tip on the bait king, drill a hole and insert a slightly bent cotter into the thread area. This will prevent the bait king from opening onshore with the waves. "

Can you post of picture of what you are talking about? I havn't had any trouble with it coming undone with waves and stuff, but it is a few years old now, and things will wear out eventually. This seems like a good idea if I'm imagining it right..."

Two trips our group has lost leeches because it came unscrewed. I think it happened because the water movement of the waves at the shoreline. Simple fix was to install a slightly bent open cotter pin in a 1/4’’ hole I drilled through both right at the thread area.

Good post. I was wondering how best to get the leeches on that long portage. I've used the big bag and it's a hassle. Nalgene bottle sounds like a good idea.

We just made a trip to goodwill and bought a plastic thermos (the 10 x 5" cylinder kind). Switching out the water once or twice a day, it helps keep them a little cooler in warm weather and is a cheap alternative to the leech locker.

Ooh I like that idea.

On our trip last week I am certain we lost leeches due to an old leech bag that had faulty velcro on the top....grrrrrrrr.......

Been storing mine in a gatorade bottle for 10+ years. Change the water a couple times a day and keep them cool and out of the sun and you're good to go. Never had an issue as long as I didn't leave them to roast in the sun.

I usually go in June when things are cooler but this has worked fine for me in July as well. If you're worried about warm temps then perhaps the bait king is a good hedge but the little bastards are quite durable.